Every minute a baby is born it fills family and friends with joy—simultaneously when a person dies it fills loved ones left behind with grief. Grief is a God-given emotion that everyone experiences when something valuable is lost, especially loss of life. An unborn child lost to miscarriage, a middle-aged woman’s terminal cancer or an old man’s heart failure, all result in grief for those who long to love them again. Grief hurts deeply.

So, how are followers of Jesus to process severe sorrow? How do we keep on living when a child, parent, grandparent or friend in now among the dead? Indeed, we let them down if we linger too long in despair, living as if there is no future hope after life. One way to honor the dead is to live well until we die. The loss of a loved one is a wake up call that our existence on earth is finite—we are called by God to live purposely for Him.

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15, NKJV).

Furthermore, when friends or family are grieving, be patient and give them space to be with Christ in His compassionate consultation. It’s your loving kindness and care that warms them to reengage with life’s responsibilities. Some people snap back quickly, while others require a long length of time to process through their enormous emptiness.

Ultimately, only Jesus can fill the void of human attachment. When deep felt love is vacated to heaven, you need heaven’s help. Grief is not to be processed alone, but with Almighty God and those who love you dearly. Open your hurting heart to genuine love, but be wise to not succumb to a greedy or self-serving “friend” seeking to take advantage of your vulnerability. Guard your heart in your grief, but give yourself fully to God.

Remember grief is momentary, but heaven is forever. Life is like a drop of water in time, but eternity with Jesus is a sea of hope, healing and happiness. Through Christ you will soon be reunited with your spouse, son, daughter, mom, dad, brother, sister and friend. Use your grief to grow closer to God and to those who love you most. Grief gets us to God.

“Saul and Jonathan— in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted” (2 Samuel 1:23).

Am I allowing the Lord to love me through my grief? Who can I comfort that is grieving and hurt with God’s word?

Related Readings: Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 38:10; John 5:24; 2 Timothy 1:10

Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God

Sometimes friends forget. They forget birthdays, anniversaries, commitments and what’s important to their friends. The forgetfulness of friends facilitates frustration and disappointment. After all, some of these friends have been past recipients of your help and encouragement. You have been there for them during their days of discouragement. Now when the tables have turned and you are in need, but they don’t seem to be near.

Maybe they are too busy with life, maybe they are buried in their own troubles, or maybe they have simply forgotten you. Unfortunately, some friendships are tentative and unpredictable. When adversity strikes you are able to filter out false friends from forever friends. Fair weather friends will fly in and out of your life. Some friendships are expedient for the moment, while others compound in loyalty and love as the years pass.

However, be careful to not place expectations on your friends. Expectations increase the chances for disappointment. A friend will let you down if you hold over them lofty expectations. If your friend feels the pressure to perform a certain way they will push back in fear or resentment. Friendships are meant for release—not control.

Companions are a gift from Christ. Steward them well, so you can be trusted with more. It is tempting to take our friends for granted. Especially long term friendships, because they are low maintenance and they tend to get the least attention. But, in reality even old friends need nurturing.  They need a phone call, a visit or written correspondence. They need time. Friendships grow or atrophy, but care and attention fertilize a friendship.

Moreover, make it a goal for your spouse to become your best friend. You and your spouse sleep and eat together. You raise children together. You manage the home together. You budget money together. You hurt together. You laugh together. You vacation together. You are growing old together. Since you spend so much time together “doing life” it is imperative you fortify your friendship. You are not just tolerating each other for the children’s sake. Your goal is to become best friends, so when the children move out, you are not bored and relationally bankrupt. Fun friendships are intentional.

The marriage relationship is a friendship not to forget. If you ignore this friend you will wake up one day with regrets. Remember their birthday, your anniversary, and all those little things that make them feel special. When you remember a friend, you honor a friend. When you remember a friend, you feed a friendship. Friendships fatigue for lack of attention. Remember a friend today. Remind them of how special they are to you and to God. Love on them and expect nothing in return. Be a friend and you will have friends.

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NKJV).

Am I a friend worthy of friendship? What friend do I need to love on and encourage?

Related Readings: 1 Samuel 20:42; Job 16:20-21; Proverbs 27:10; John 15:13-15

Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God

God is rock solid—always dependable—every present. There are no storms of life or surges from sin that dislodge the Lord’s foundation of faithfulness. Christ is a cleft in the rock and the Rock of ages. He protects, provides and perseveres. Skeptics cannot shove Him aside or ignore His works of salvation. He is a righteous Rock for all who believe.

“When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by” (Exodus 33:22).

Some days our weary souls feel like giving up and giving in to the enemy’s enticements. But we have One greater, who goes with us the extra mile and fights our battles for us. The rock of God cannot be penetrated with arrows of apathy or bullets of unbelief. He stands strong, ready to defend His children and give them victory in His son Jesus.

“With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below” (Genesis 49:23-25).

How is your foundation of faith? Is it built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, or on the shifting sand of circumstances? Circumstantial belief depends on outside forces, while true faith relies on the unchanging inner peace of God. Choices based on obedience to Christ result in outcomes that honor Him and others. Because you have confidence in the foundational principles found in God’s flawless word, you find His perfect way by faith.

So, praise the Lord your everlasting and unchanging Rock of righteousness. He is worthy to receive all glory and gratitude you offer Him. There is none other like your lofty and lifted up Lord of glory. Exalt His holy name and rest in the cleft of your reassuring Rock. As a follower of Jesus: build on His reliable rock of character—faith, hope and love.

“The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior” (2 Samuel 22:47).

Does my faith rest on the unchanging Rock of God or on my ever-changing circumstances?

Related Readings: Psalm 19:14; 40:2; Isaiah 26:4; Matthew 7:24; 1 Corinthians 10:4

Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God

Do not rush God. He can be trusted. What He says, He will do. He will accomplish His will, His way—in His time. This is difficult because we can’t wait to experience God’s promise. But the anticipation is supposed to part of the process. The joy of looking forward to God’s blessing is rivaled by few emotions and experiences. He has allowed us to see His future vision for our edification, not our consternation. Trust—don’t rush Him.

Because of a crisis and overwhelming needs, we are tempted to help God make things happen. But is this His timing? Be patient. God is not rushed. How audacious of us to think we can accelerate the Almighty’s timeline. It is His grace pace that is best for believers. It is not about striving to impose an issue, or creating circumstances that forces His will. “Woe to him who strives with his Maker!” (Isaiah 45:9a, NKJV).

He has a plan. You can be content as His plan unfolds, or you can remain frustrated trying to facilitate twisted means to reach good goals. Do not allow the compelling issue to manipulate you into doing anything and everything to meet the necessary need. It may be a crisis of belief, but it is not a crisis that demands frantic reactions. You may feel rushed, but Jesus is patient. Take a step back and breathe in God’s fresh air of faith.

God’s timing and God’s methods may seem unnatural to you, even impossible. But it is all for a purpose. His purposes prevail. You may be tempted to laugh at the Lord’s methods, but He is counter-intuitive. The level of faith required for this phase of your journey seems unrealistic. Yes, at times there is a fine line between foolishness and faith.

But what the world sees as foolish, God sees as wise. And what the world looks on as wise, God sees as foolish. So, it may seem foolish to give more time and money to the Kingdom of God, but He is pleased with your step of faith. Indeed, your return on investment of peace, joy and contentment will far outweigh your meager sacrifice.

How is your family? It is a big deal to trust your children or siblings with God. It shouldn’t be, but it is. Leave them in their Creator’s hands. They may need to suffer the current consequences of their choices to recognize and understand their need for God. Be there for them, but do not rush what Christ is up to in their faith development.

Yes, you can rush ahead of the Lord and get short-term results, which ultimately lead to long-term distractions and disappointments. Or, you can wait on God’s plan to unfold and experience unprecedented peace, fulfillment and significance. Then you know He did it and you were part of His bigger plan. None of us likes to be rushed, especially God!

Related Readings: Psalm 37:7; Proverbs 6:18; Jeremiah 5:4; 1 Corinthians 1:18-27

Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God